Kennedy Friend Paul Kirk to Fill Interim Seat

Sept. 24, 2009 -- Almost a month to the day after the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, Gov. Deval Patrick named Paul Kirk to be the second senator from Massachusetts.

Kirk, 71, was a close friend and confidante of the late Sen. Kennedy for over 40 years. He joined Kennedy's staff in 1969, serving there for eight years. He later went on to chair the Democratic National Committee in the 1980s. Today he is a Boston attorney and has served as the chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's board of directors.

Before his death, Kennedy had written a letter to the governor asking him to push through a change in the state law that would allow him to appoint an interim successor who could start work immediately, instead of leaving the seat open until filled in a special election.

In accordance with Kennedy's wishes, the Massachusetts legislature altered the succession law, paving the way for a special appointment by the governor. As part of the deal, Kirk said today that he has pledged not to seek election in January.

"Consistent with Sen. Kennedy's wishes and the expectations of the governor and the legislature, I shall not be a candidate in the special election," Kirk said. He went on to say that he was humbled by his appointment and honored to have the Kennedy family's endorsement.

"To also have the encouragement and support of his family, that I be a voice and a vote for his causes and his constituents in the Senate that he loved, is a blessing I can only repay by giving my very best efforts to be the best public servant I can be in the months ahead," he said.

Kirk will be Massachusetts' senator until a permanent successor is chosen in a special election scheduled for Jan. 19, 2010.

Kirk was one of six candidates under final consideration for the job, among them former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis. When asked why Dukakis wasn't picked, Patrick said, "I love Governor Dukakis." But he went on to say that there would be a certain temptation for whoever hold this post to "make a statement" – something Patrick said he wanted to avoid.

Sen. John Kerry, also present on stage at today's announcement, put it this way: "This is a caretaker appointment, a gentle and difficult transition, a kind of stewardship. And Paul Kirk will be a superb steward of this seat."

Kirk's Appointment Gives Senate Dems Veto Proof Majority

Kennedy's widow, Vickie Reggie Kennedy, was present for the announcement along with Sen. Kennedy's eldest son Ted Jr. In a statement, the Kennedy family endorsed Kirk's appointment.

"Senator Kennedy always said that serving the people of Massachusetts in the United States Senate was the greatest honor of his life. He would be so pleased that Paul Kirk will also now have that honor….Side by side they fought many battles for progress and social justice, and nothing could be more fitting than for Paul now to carry on that fight."

President Obama echoed those sentiments in his own statement: "I am pleased that Massachusetts will have its full representation in the United States Senate in the coming months as important issues such as health care, financial reform and energy will be debated. Paul Kirk is a distinguished leader, whose long collaboration with Senator Kennedy makes him an excellent, interim choice to carry on his work until the voters make their choice in January."

Kirk's appointment gives Congressional Democrats a filibuster-proof 60th vote that will help the party and Obama as they try to push through key legislative priorities, like the increasingly controversial health care reform bill.

Patrick executed emergency powers in order to make the state legislature's change to the succession law, effective immediately. He said the issues facing the U.S. Congress right now, including health care reform, climate change and education funding, are too important to be given short shrift. "Every vote will count and that means that Massachusetts must be fully counted too."

Kirk said he plans to retain Kennedy's staff. He will be sworn in on Friday in a ceremony on Capitol Hill.